May Tourism Numbers Show Improvement and Set New Record

After four months of lagging tourism numbers compared to the record-setting level of 2010, Israel’s fortunes seem to have turned as the number of visitors to the Holy Land in the month of May was higher than the same month last year - a 5 percent increase over the former record.

Some 308,000 visitors arrived in Israel during the spring month and a total of 1,350,000 since January. In general, the numbers have been down slightly from last year. The January to May period in 2011 showed a 2 percent drop from 2010.

“The success of the Tourism Ministry in stabilizing incoming tourism to Israel, given the geopolitical situation in the region that is affecting the image of the region and Israel within it, is both impressive and important,” said Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov. “We will continue in these efforts in the coming months.”

Misezhnikov is in Milan, Italy this week to launch “Israel Week,” a worldwide campaign to promote tourism to Israel. The Tourism Ministry is planning to invest 60 million shekels in the summer campaign.

“This is the time to exploit opportunities, to be flexible and respond swiftly and, at the same time, to maintain ongoing market analysis,” Misezhnikov said. “We will work to maximize the marketing investment and to significantly shorten the period of recovery.”

Misezhnikov was in Italy last week as part of "Israel Week," launched in Milan to promote tourism to the Holy Land. The minister signed an agreement with his Italian counterpart Tourism Minister Michela Vittoria Brambilla to promote bilateral tourism, information exchange in various fields, the promotion of Christian and pilgrim tourism to Israel and culinary and cultural events.